A short one shot.

The darkness has descended... however, Sam lets his mind wander... he wonders if he and Dean can ever be truly brothers again.

The darkness.

Sam jerked awake, suddenly aware that he was fast asleep on Dean's shoulder. He shook his head and shifted up to a sitting position. Dean , his eyes fixed on the roads, gave a small chuckle.

"You feeling better, Sleepyhead?"

"Why didn't you wake me... or at least, I dunno, shift me?"

Dean didn't say anything but instead cleared his throat and kept his eyes on the road.

Sam rubbed a hand over his face, sighed and decided from past experience not to push the issue.

"Urm, you wanna rest? I can take the wheel for a bit."

Dean shook his head.

"How long was I out?"

"'bout three hours. Maybe four."

"Jesus, Dean! You've been driving for..."

"I'm fine. Get some more kip."

Sam shook his head and sat up straighter.

"Has it... y'know... at any point... got any lighter?"

Dean shook his head again. "No."

Sam had known the answer before he had asked it. They had been driving for two days. Two days with no flicker of light. Dean hadn't said much... he had kept his eyes on the road and had only stopped when he had swerved for no apparent reason. He has agreed to grab an hour of sleep but with the promise that Sam would not drive. They would sit for an hour.

Sam had watched his brother sleep. In truth, there wasn't much else to do. Phone signal was completely down and so far they hadn't seen so much as a rabbit on the road to indicate any other sign of life. So Sam had watched. Dean's features had softened since he had lost the mark, despite the current situation. Sam had wanted to protest about the 'no driving, little brother' rule but... well, he couldn't deny it was nice to hear that concern again. Even it was somewhat patronising.

Still. The silence in between the small talk... along with the constant darkness... it was little too much to bear.

"You wanted me dead, Dean..." Sam spoke aloud, he wasn't even sure why. He had been thinking about it... but is seemed such a simple, trivial thing to bring up. "You wanted me dead... instead of Charlie... or maybe just... just because. You hated me. Despised me"

There was a short silence and then...

"I said I wanted you dead? That... that I hated you?"

"You don't remember?"

No...no. 'Cause not."

"You never actually said you hated me... that was implied. So... you really don't remember? Really?"

"No! What the... NO." Dean sounded angry. Truly angry.

"Y'know what Sammy? I should have been straightening your tie at your prom. Slipping a mint at your first date... but instead I'm guns, jumping in front of bullets...Sam, this is all I've ever know."

Sam leaned back, somewhat regretting bringing up the subject but relieved it was now out there.

Dean's face was twisted, as though he was in immense pain.

"Sam... look"

Sam didn't say anything. He got the impression that maybe Dean had wanted him to interrupt the conversation.

"Sam... that... that wasn't me. You get that... right?"

"Yeah. Yeah... I do. I do. It's just..."

"Just what? What, Sammy? You want me to throw my arms around you, say I'm sorry, say I love you?"

Sam didn't say anything but he smiled.

"What?" Dean looked annoyed but slightly worried at the same time.

"Sammy. You called me Sammy."